In the News: Goettl Air Conditioning Sponsors Vet to Start His Career

The military is a popular option for young men and women looking to accumulate life experience and credentials. However, many people tend to pursue other careers with the skills they get from their military service. For those who fulfill their obligations and then leave to pursue new opportunities, transitioning to civilian life can be daunting. For veteran and student Nick Hughes, help came in the form of a sponsorship from Goettl Air Conditioning owner Ken Goodrich.

Nick graduates this month from the College of Southern Nevada, completing a degree in applied science. He’s also the recipient of the Post 9/11 Veterans Tools Award, which is sponsored by Goettl Air Conditioning.

Starting a career in HVAC involves a pretty significant financial investment, especially for the cost of specialized tools necessary to do the job. For people just coming out of college, it’s not easy to be able to afford all the equipment you need to get a good start on your career. So, recipients of the award will be given $1000-worth of tools in order to help them get a head start.

“When I came out of school, I had screwdrivers, nuts and bolts. What I couldn’t afford was all of this,” Says Dennis Soukoup, chair of the applied science department at the university. “Back then, you worked for an employer, and they took it out of your check.”

The tools don’t make the technician, of course. Now, though, Nick will hopefully have a much easier time getting ahead in his new career. “The tools you need are so expensive, and there are so many you need,” said Hughes, 28. “It’s amazing and awesome to have that kind of support, for the community to get together to support a veteran.” Goettl plans on awarding the sponsorship to a veteran every year.